By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, April 9, 2011
TAMPA — USF football wrapped up spring practice with a final scrimmage at the Bulls' soccer stadium, and the offense was much more productive than in last week's scrimmage at Raymond James Stadium.
Running backs Darrell Scott and Demetris Murray rushed for 61 and 75 yards, respectively, with a touchdown each, and quarterback B.J. Daniels rushed for a touchdown. USF coach Skip Holtz was pleased with his team's progress, though he remains disappointed by the play of his receivers.
"I don't think we competed very well at receiver," he said. "We had two or three interceptions with opportunities to compete for it at receiver. On the positive side, our quarterbacks actually gave them a chance to catch it, where a week ago we threw it 20 yards over everybody's heads."
Cornerback Kayvon Webster returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown.
FSU: Up and down day
TALLAHASSEE — Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said he was pleased with the effort and toughness his team displayed in its second spring scrimmage. But in execution and consistency, the Seminoles still have, "a long way to go," he said.
"There's still a lot of things that we've got to get ironed out next week and through the summer," Fisher said. "It's going to be a work in progress all the way up unto two-a-days."
After FSU's last scrimmage ahead of next Saturday's spring game, Fisher was bothered by dropped passes, missed routes and poor tackling techniques. Immediately afterward, an animated Fisher addressed the team in a midfield huddle.
Alabama: The university is looking into reports that five-star linebacker Brent Calloway received improper benefits, including cash, before signing with the school in February, the Tuscaloosa News reported.
NOTRE DAME: Suspended receiver Michael Floyd cleared the first hurdle in his bid to return to the team when a disciplinary panel let him stay at the school. Coach Brian Kelly suspended Floyd on March 21, the day after Floyd was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. He has a May 2 court date.
Basketball
HONORS: Jimmer Fredette of BYU and Maya Moore of UConn won the John R. Wooden Award as men's and women's players of the year. Fredette received 3,761 votes in the poll of nearly 1,000 national media. Moore received 678 votes for her second Wooden honor.
USF: Coach Stan Heath picked up a second point guard commitment for next season from Blake Nash, a 6-foot, 185-pounder from Williston State College in North Dakota.
CONNECTICUT: Jim Calhoun said he hasn't decided whether to come back for a 26th season. "I can guarantee you I haven't made my mind up in any way," he said from Fenway Park, where the Boston native threw out the first pitch before the Red Sox-Yankees game.
SAINT LOUIS: Center Willie Reed, suspended last season after a campus incident, has withdrawn from school.
VIRGINIA: Joanne Boyle will be introduced as the new women's coach on Monday, the Associated Press reported.
Other sports
HOCKEY: Minnesota-Duluth (26-10-6) won its first Division I national championship at the Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minn., defeating Michigan 3-2 on Kyle Schmidt's goal 3:22 into overtime. Michigan (29-11-4) holds the D-I record with nine national championships.
SOFTBALL: USF swept Georgetown 1-0, 4-0 as the Bulls (26-15, 6-0 Big East) increased their winning streak to nine. For the second time in less than a week, Freshman Sara Nevins lost a no-hit bid with one out in the seventh, settling for a one-hitter in Game 2.
Information from the Orlando Sentinel and Times wires was used in this report.